The White Sox continue to lock up their talent, this time with a rising reliever. The team and LHP Aaron Bummer have agreed to terms on a 5-year, $16 million deal. It is the largest contract extension given to a non-closer who has yet to qualify for salary arbitration in Major League history, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a five-year, $16-million contract with left-handed pitcher Aaron Bummer, plus two club options that could extend the deal through the 2026 season. MORE:
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 22, 2020
The lefty, Bummer, finished his 2019 campaign with some pretty impressive numbers in a breakout season. He went 0-0 with a 2.13 ERA, 60 strikeouts, 0.99 WHIP, one save, and 27 holds over 58 relief appearances (67.2 IP). Over his three-season career with the team, he has a 3.12 ERA, 112 strikeouts, and 125 relief appearances.
In terms of money, Bummer is set to earn the following with this new contract:
- $1 million in 2020
- $2 million in 2021
- $2.5 million in 2022
- $3.75 million in 2023
- $5.5 million in 20204
- White Sox option for $7.25 million in 2025 and $7.5 million in 2026, with $1.25 million buyouts for each season.
For the White Sox, this is a very smart move to ensure that the bullpen will have a legitimate arm over the course of contention these next five seasons. Bummer became a reliable back-end option as the season went on in 2019. The 26-year-old ranked among the top in American League relievers when it came to inherited runners scored percentage (2nd, 19.4), first-batter efficiency (T4th, .115), holds (T6th, 27), ERA (7th, 2.13), and opponents average (T9th, .194). He will be a key piece in late innings along with guys like Steve Cishek and closer Alex Colome in 2020. After that, the closer role becomes less clear once Colome hits the open market but Bummer could be a potential replacement.
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